Assignment: Describe what the poem means to you. Discuss the use of metaphor to create analogies in the mind of the listener. How does the impact of this poem change when you hear it as apposed to reading it? Use specific examples from the text.

1."Define Canada

You might say the home of the Rocket

Or The Great One

Who inspired little No. 9s and little No. 99s


2. But we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

Off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes


3. And some say what defines us

Is something as simple as 'please' and 'thank you'

And as for 'you're welcome,' well, we say that, too


4. But we are more than genteel or civilized


5. We are an idea in the process of being realized


6. We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry

And the design is what makes us more than the sum totals of our history


7. We are an experiment going right for a change

With influences that range from A to Zed

And yes, we say 'Zed' instead of 'Zee'


8. We are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy


9. We dream so big that there are those

Who would call our ambition an industry

Because we are vineyards of good year after good year

We reforest what we clear


10. Because we believe in generations beyond our own

Knowing now that so many of us

Have grown past what we used to be

We can stand here today

Filled with all the hope people have

When they say things like 'someday'


11.Because we are more

Than a laundry list of things to do and places to see


12. More than hills to ski

Or countryside ponds to skate


13. We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait


14. We are first-rate greasy spoon diners and healthy living cafes


15. A country that is all the ways you choose to live

A nation that can give you variety

Because we are choices

We are millions upon millions of voices

Shouting, keep exploring

We are more


16. We are the surprise the world has in store for you, it's true

Canada is the 'what' in 'what's new'


17. So don't let your luggage define your travels

Each life unravels differently

And experiences are what make up

The colours of our tapestry


18. We are the true North

Strong and free


19. And what's more

Is that we didn't just say it

We made it be"



To me, "We are more" is more than just a poem, it's a message that tells the world and all of those around us what we really are. The poem talks about the stereotypical things expected out of our country such as hockey, fishing and being polite, but we all know ourselves that that is not all. The verse :"We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry" and "We are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy" is a really good metaphor for saying we are a multicultural country, which is one of the main things that are special about our country. The poem also expresses how canadians invest in the youth and believe that they are the future, this is portrayed in the verse"Because we believe in generations beyond our own ,Knowing now that so many of us ,Have grown past what we used to be ,We can stand here today ,Filled with all the hope people have ,When they say things like 'someday'". I also really liked how he talked about Canada's variety and how it's not just "More than hills to ski Or countryside ponds to skate" which is the visual most other countries have of us as: "A cold snow country".The poem itself is a real piece of imagery and has strong meaning, but when it was performed on stage by Shane, the poem had so much more feeling and a stronger feeling message than just reading it. The poem was contained much examples of our Canadian's culture, and perfectly brought the message across that " We are more"(We canadians are more than they perceive us as).

Excellent content. Be sure to proof read carefully.

10/12